Every year we publish an overview of the importance of our member companies in Switzerland and worldwide. Our publication “Facts and Figures” shows the role of the companies as employers in Switzerland and abroad, their commitment abroad in the form of direct investments and their importance on the Swiss stock exchange.
Member companies are the largest issuer group of SIX Swiss Exchange
At 64 percent, SwissHoldings member companies account for two-thirds of the total Swiss market capitalisation on the SIX Swiss Exchange (as of 31st March 2023). This is a slight decrease of 2 percent compared to the previous year. The member companies of Swissholdings still account for the largest share of market capitalisation on the Swiss stock exchange.
CHF 1,784 billion, 2023
Figure 1: Market capitalization of Swiss companies on the SIX Swiss Exchange
One-third of the capital stock of Swiss foreign direct investment is held by member firms
In 2021, the capital stock of Swiss foreign direct investors abroad decreased compared to last year by six percent to CHF 1,406 billion. The decline in foreign direct investment by member companies was smaller. Therefore, their share of total Swiss direct investment increased by two percent to 34%.
CHF 1,406 billion, 2021
Figure 2: Capital stock of total Swiss foreign direct investment
Swiss corporations currently employ close to 3.5 million people abroad
The total workforce of Swiss foreign direct investors increased slightly in 2021 compared to the previous year, specifically by 11,400 people. The total workforce of SwissHoldings member companies increased disproportionately by 27,402 persons. This means that the share of member companies in the total workforce rose slightly to 46 percent compared to 2020.
3.5 million people, 2021
Figure 3: Workforce of total Swiss foreign direct investment
SwissHoldings member companies remain major employers
Member companies of SwissHoldings employed over 1.8 million people worldwide at the end of 2021. The changes compared to the previous year are small. While the number of employees abroad increased slightly over the course of the year, the number of employees in Switzerland remained stable at just under 200,000.
1.8 million people, 2021
Figure 4: Workforce of member companies worldwide
There are no significant changes in the number of employees in the individual regions, but some shifts can be observed in the capital stock.
In terms of the capital stock of SwissHoldings member companies, it can be seen that the EU countries lost a great deal of weight in a direct comparison with other regions in 2021, with a minus of five percent. In contrast, the capital stock and thus the relative importance of Latin America/Caribbean and Asia increased. There were only slight changes in the regional distribution of personnel. Here, there was a slight relative increase in Asia/Australia/Oceania, whereas Africa recorded a decline.
Regional distribution of personal, 2021
Figure 5: Regional breakdown of member companies’ foreign direct investment
